One of the coolest things I’ve done this year was go to school.
My school had a classroom.
My school had a teacher.
My school had gin.
Lots and lots of gin.
That’s right… I went to Gin School – and bloody loved it!
Recently, my wife and I were invited to Manly Spirits Co. to experience their $190 per person, two-hour Gin School class at their fancy Brookvale distillery.
Manly Spirits Co. are one of the leaders in the Australian gin and alcohol market and it’s no surprise why.
At their purpose-built distilling laboratory, my wife and I sat down with a gin & tonic in hand, and not only did we dive into the art of distilling, but we learned step by step how to craft Manly Spirits’ award-winning gin.
As we sat down at our round wooden table, we got to select from dozens of native and exotic botanicals to create our own personalised flavour profile.
With help from our excellent teacher Sasha, we were both able to create our own unique gin blend that we wouldn’t be able to find on liquor store shelves anywhere!
With our gin ‘cooking’ away in the neat-looking distilling equipment nearby, Sasha treated us to a tasty antipasto platter as well as another gin cocktail as she kept a close eye on our brew.
Following the hour-long distillation process, we finally got to sample and name our unique creations (I called mine Festive Choc Orange Gin) before bottling them up and personalising them with our special bottle labels.
Like I said in the opener – this was a really cool and unique experience from start to finish and one that I would highly recommend to friends, family gatherings, or special events like hens or bucks parties.
Whether you’re a gin enthusiast like me or just looking for a one-of-a-kind activity to do on a weekend with your partner, Manly Spirits’ Gin School is an intimate and must-do experience!
After leaving the best school ever, my wife and I retreated to our nearby accommodation for a rest, the recently refurbished Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah.
While this property doesn’t have views of the Pacific Ocean, it is situated in a prime location for any Northern Beaches getaway.
The hotel’s friendly General Manager Scott Bear dubbed the property “the gem of the Northern Beaches” and I can see his point!
Located in Brookvale, directly opposite Manly Sea Eagles Leagues Club and a five-minute walk from Brookvale Oval, the Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah is just a short drive away from beautiful Manly, Dee Why and Collaroy beaches as well as the fabulous Warringah Mall shopping centre.
The three-level hotel comprised of 120 rooms with a private kitchenette, smart TV, air conditioning, iron and a safe. While services included on-site parking, free Wi-Fi, a laundry, 24-hour reception and a self-check-in desk.
Perhaps one of my favourite things about this family-friendly property though (apart from its location) was its restaurant, the Distrikt Press Café.
The hotel bills Distrikt Press as “your home away from home”, with dynamic spaces to sit, work or play, as well as flexible service styles and eating options.
I must admit, District Press’ buffet breakfast was sensational to wake up to and their all-day dining menu – which featured snacks, pizza, toasties and desserts – was perfect for those random hunger cravings.
Speaking of cravings, once the gin started to wear off, we couldn’t wait to get stuck into our next boozy location that night, Bucketty’s Brewing Co.
I swear my wife and I aren’t big drinkers, but after a long and tough year, this weekend away was very much needed!
Bucketty’s is a popular (and I mean popular) brewery located a less than five-minute drive from the hotel along Orchard Road, Brookvale.
This up-and-coming area is full of breweries and the like, but judging by the line to get in during a wet and dreary Saturday evening, Bucketty’s was the place to be!
Bucketty’s is a large indoor-outdoor venue with 15 regularly changing taps serving up fresh, delicious beers and ciders. The heaving bar also serves up some great Aussie wines, spirits and cocktails for the non-beer lovers.
Bucketty’s also has a decent food menu as well as live bands multiple nights a week on their dedicated stage, showcasing local artists.
I must say, the atmosphere at Bucketty’s was incredible and unlike any brewery I’ve visited before.
Please put this on your itinerary!
The Northern Beaches can often feel like a million miles away but, in reality, it’s not. It’s just over an hour from western Sydney and features some wonderful places that you won’t find anywhere else in our wonderful city.
From breweries and distilleries like Manly Spirits Co. and Bucketty’s to incredible places to eat like Chargrill Charlie’s and Butterboy Bakery, the Northern Beaches is more than just beaches, it’s one of my favourite destinations of the year, and there’s so much to do.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.